Bulk food dispenser automation
AssigneeTrade Fixtures, LLC
InventorsCraig Pavlich, Christopher Lyons, Austen Siwiec
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bulk food product gravity-feed dispenser includes a compartment configured to receive and store bulk food material. A valve separates the compartment from an outlet. The valve operates to open and close to selectively permit bulk food material to pass from the compartment through the outlet. An electromechanical motor is communicatively connected to a controller and mechanically connected to the valve. The controller operates in response to receipt of a dispense instruction input to produce a control signal to the electromechanical motor. The electromechanical motor operates to move the valve between a closed position and an open position to dispense a portion of the bulk food material.
Claims19
A bulk food product gravity-feed dispenser for use by customers in a retail setting, the gravity-feed dispenser comprising:
- a compartment configured to receive and store bulk food material;
- a valve separating the compartment from an outlet, the valve operable to open and close to selectively permit bulk food material to pass from the compartment through the outlet;
- a controller configured to receive an identification of the bulk food material in the compartment and to receive a dispense input, the controller configured to operate the valve based upon the received dispense input and to lookup food product data using the identification of the bulk food material, and the controller configured to, upon operation of the valve, calculate an estimated dispense volume from the valve operation and the food product data and to calculate an estimated dispense price based at least in part upon the estimated dispense volume and the food product data;
- and
- a graphical display operable by the controller to present a visual indication of an estimated dispense amount and the estimated dispense price, wherein the estimated dispense amount is the estimated dispense volume or an estimated dispense weight calculated from the estimated dispense volume.
A bulk food product gravity-feed dispenser for use by customers in a retail setting, the gravity-feed dispenser comprising:
- a compartment configured to receive and store bulk food material;
- a spout extending away from the compartment and open at an outlet;
- a valve separating the compartment from the spout, the valve operable to open and close to selectively permit bulk food material to pass from the compartment through the outlet of the spout;
- a user input sensor arranged proximate the outlet of the spout, wherein the user input sensor is configured to detect a proximity of a receptacle below the spout and to produce a dispense instruction input signal upon detection;
- an electromechanical motor mechanically connected to the valve, the electromechanical motor configured to move the valve between a closed position and an open position to dispense a portion of the bulk food material from the compartment through the outlet of the spout;
- a controller configured to receive the dispense instruction input signal, configured to operate the electromechanical motor in response to the dispense instruction input signal, configured to receive an identification of the bulk food material in the compartment and to lookup food product data using the identification of the bulk food material, the controller configured to calculate an estimated dispense volume based upon the operation of the valve and the food product data, and configured to calculate an estimated dispense price based at least in part upon the estimated dispense volume;
- a visible light source arranged proximate the outlet of the spout and operable by the controller to illuminate an area below the spout to produce a visual indication of the status of the dispenser;
- and
- a graphical display operable by the controller to present a visual indication of the estimated dispense amount and the estimated dispense price, wherein the estimated dispense amount comprises the estimated dispense volume or an estimated dispense weight calculated from the estimated dispense volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.